When your business depends on fast internet, slowdowns equal big problems.

How do you know if your business internet is fast and reliable enough to meet the needs of your growing organization? Let’s break down this question by looking at the telltale signs of too-slow speeds, what a slow connection could cost your business, and the capabilities your internet needs to have.

 Signs of a Slow Internet Connection

There are many signs that point to your internet connection being too slow to meet your business needs. 

Decrease in Internet Speed

As more users attempt to work off of the same network connection simultaneously, there will be a noticeable decrease in internet speed. Web pages will take longer to load, lag times will increase, and latency or communication times will take longer than expected.

File Sharing Doesn’t Work

Decreased speeds mean that the time it takes to send and receive network data transfers will increase exponentially. In many cases, file sharing may not work at all. When file transfer speeds are limited to the speed of your business internet, weak connections don’t cut it.

Application Issues

A common sign of a slow connection is the load times of applications in use. If you notice server response times increasing as employees use more applications to complete their work, this could be directly tied to slow internet speeds. 

Video Conferences Lag

If your team has to reduce video quality or turn off their video to stop a call from lagging, it may stem from a poor internet connection. Poorly executed video calls may lead to customer satisfaction falling, as no customer wants to deal with constant freezes and pauses. 

Slow Payment Processing

After initiating a transaction, online payments shouldn’t take more than a few seconds to process. This will directly affect businesses that use a web-based POS system. These businesses may be unable to take orders on multiple terminals, run into issues syncing their customer relationship, can't process gift cards, and run into other unexpected complications due to a spotty connection. If payments and transactions cannot be processed on time, your customer and employee experience will be affected.

 The Business Cost of Slow Internet

Slower speeds and constant interruptions in connection lead to many challenges that will impact the overall growth of your business.  

Lost Revenue 

The most notable and detrimental effect of a slow connection will be its impact on your revenue. These days, customers are more tech-savvy and will notice slow internet speeds instantly, especially when they are teleworking from a cafe or standing around waiting for transactions to process. Any situation that ends in a less-than-perfect customer experience could cause loyal patrons to seek the same goods and services somewhere else. Customers are not willing to wait to pay for something, even after they have decided to purchase it. Slow internet invites your customers to compare experiences at your establishment against what the competition might offer.

Communication Issues, Workplace Stress, and Reduced Productivity and Morale

Businesses with a large team working simultaneously won’t be able to support a high number of devices at the same time. Most WiFi routers cannot support many devices connected at once. A slow internet connection decreases the productivity of every person in the workplace and, in turn, makes the office more stressful. This will be especially noticeable as most workplaces shift to cloud-based technology applications like Office 365 or Google Suite, which require a fast internet connection. 

Without the right speeds, employees grapple with endless wait times and interrupted video calls. Clients around the globe suffer delays in communication while remote workers scramble to keep up when audio stutters and videos freeze. Sub-par connectivity leads to stress levels spiking and a diminished reputation for your business, which could ultimately drive away talent due to inadequate tools for success. 

Tarnished Customer Service and Dissatisfaction 

If your internet is not fast enough, you won’t be able to provide excellent customer service and support. This poor level of customer care creates unhappy and dissatisfied customers and decreases the number of loyal customers who promote your business to their friends and family. PR Newswire released findings from a recent TechSee survey that concluded, “43% of customers switched products or canceled a contract due to poor customer service in 2022. This is a 10% increase compared to the 39% of customers who said the same thing in 2019, pre-COVID.”

Companies that don’t offer their best customer service will be the ones with customers who eventually take their business elsewhere. As markets become more saturated with companies offering the same or similar services, those who cannot stand firm against their competition won't make it. 

 Critical Factors of a Strong Business Internet

When evaluating Guam internet providers, several key factors are essential to consider.

• Can they handle your specific work requirements and needs?
• Do they offer sufficient bandwidth and the proper upload and download speeds to support productivity and the size of your operations?  
• Can they accommodate your devices, type of business, number of employees, and location-based needs?
• Do they provide 24/7 support, added security measures, and protection against cyber threats? 
• Do they have Wifi options, managed Wifi offerings, and mobile accessibility for remote employees?

These questions are important factors to consider when evaluating your current internet and deciding if it can accommodate your unique business needs. If you’re finding that the speed of your internet is affecting the quality of your service, it’s time to think about the bigger picture — and the business cost of a poor connection.

 Internet at the Speed of Business

No matter your industry, choosing the right internet speed for your business is essential. Find out how the right internet speed, connection, and equipment can help connect you with more customers, collaborate effortlessly, and grow your bottom line without compromising quality or security. Contact our Business Sales team today!